MARCH 21, 2013 | 7:00 PM

A Washington County couple settled a high profile Marcellus Shale contamination case for $750,000 and signed affidavits that say no medical evidence ”definitively” connects their children’s health problems to drilling activity. Stephanie and Chris Hallowich also signed an affidavit that says their children were in good health. More than $155,000 will go to the plaintiff’s attorneys. Each Hallowich child receives $10,000 to be placed in a trust. Stephanie and Chris Hallowich receive $594,820.37. The settlement requires arbitration should the children suffer any future health impacts.

The complaint describes how the Hallowich family bought land in rural Washington County to raise their children in a healthy environment. But they soon discovered that the mineral rights beneath their land were already leased to Range Resources by the previous owner. Once gas drilling activity began near their home, they describe foul odors, loud noise, and ill-health, which they connected to air emissions, and contaminated water supplies.

You know the David and Goliath story – In the version you will hear on today’s show, David is a 54 year old Canadian scientist by the name of Jessica Ernst . An unlikely hero in that she worked with and for the petroleum industry for 30 years. In this story, her Goliath is one of the largest natural gas producers in the world, EnCana. With Ernst’s diligence, the Canadian Energy Resources Conservation Board has started to pursue EnCana for negligence and unlawful activities. While the issue is still in court, and none of Ernst’s claims have been proven, she was asked to testify at the UN on the same issue.